Panama City, FloridaMarch 1954

On March 8, 1954, near Panama City, Florida, two housewives observed an unidentified object for approximately five minutes. The first observer called the second's attention to what appeared to be a white cloud with tinges of silver. The object then faded and reappeared a few moments later.

The object changed shape dramatically throughout the sighting. When first spotted, it had a cigar shape. It then shifted to a delta wing appearance. By the end of the observation, it took on a round, flat shape. The witnesses compared its size to an ordinary baseball held at arm's length, which they estimated at roughly thirty-five inches in diameter. The color varied with each change in shape: white with silver tones during the first two observations, and pinkish-grey when it appeared round and flat. The object made no sound.

The object remained in motion for the entire five-minute period. After an initial moment of descent at a thirty-degree angle, it moved to a horizontal position. It then made a wide turn slightly to the north, swinging westward while staying level, and finally disappeared to the west at an estimated altitude of 7,000 to 10,000 feet. The witnesses reported that weather conditions were clear with thin scattered clouds and no wind at ground level.

The Air Force investigation noted that twenty-six aircraft were flying in the local area at the time, and local radar reports showed no unidentified activity. The preparing officer concluded that the sighting could possibly have been a local aircraft, given the number of planes in the region and the witnesses' acknowledged difficulty in judging altitude and distance. However, shortly after the report was prepared, a Tyndall Air Force pilot contacted a local newspaper stating he had observed a large flock of birds in the vicinity at approximately the same time. The pilot's name could not be located in permanent records at either the radio station or the newspaper office. The full case file of 12 pages is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.